Football team outlasts Carthage 42-32

KENOSHA, Wis. – Sophomore Christopher Jones rushed for 144 yards and junior Braden Black threw for 268 yards to lead the Olivet College football team to a 42-32 win over Carthage (Wis.) College today at Art Keller Field in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Comets improve to 2-0 with the win, while the Red Men drop to 0-2.

Carthage took a 7-0 lead on its first series when James Cobb caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Bobby Suchecki. Olivet answered on its first possession of the game. On fourth down, Black rushed into the end zone from nine yards out. The PAT kick was missed.

The Red Men added to their lead on a 13-yard touchdown run for Cobb. The Comets got back to one with 1:59 left in the opening quarter when Jones scampered five yards into the end zone. Sophomore Gunnar Aper made the PAT kick.

With one second left in the first quarter, Carthage called a timeout right before a fourth down play to set-up a fake punt. The pass play was intercepted by senior Curtis French and returned for a touchdown to put Olivet ahead for the first time in the game. The PAT kick was blocked and brought back by the defense for a two-point conversion to make the score 19-16.

The Comets forced the Red Men to punt on their first two possessions of the second quarter. After the second one, Olivet used a 13-play, 63-yard drive, capped by a one-yard touchdown run and then a two-point conversion run for Jones, to stretch its lead to 27-16. The score stayed that way at halftime.

Carthage used its own interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter to cut its deficit down to three points, 27-24. The Comets got those eight points back on their ensuing possession. On a fourth down play, Black threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Dominic Givens. The two-point conversion try was good.

The Red Men closed to three points, 35-32, one more time on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Suhecki to Cobbs, and a successful two-point conversion. Again, Olivet answered with its own touchdown on another fourth down play. Black tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to junior Mitchell Bailey. Aper nailed the PAT kick.

Carthage's three possessions in the fourth quarter resulted in zero points. The first drive ended on a blocked 37-yard field goal, and the other two ended in Comet interceptions. Olivet also failed to score any points in the fourth quarter.

The Comets finished the game with 468 yards of offense – 228 through the air and 240 on the ground. Jones needed 31 carries to get his 144 yard. Black was 18-of-35 passing to go along with 50 rushing yards. Senior Jason Barbosa was the top receiver with six catches for 80 yards. Sophomore Walter Love III topped the defense with 13 total tackles, including 11 solo tackles.

The Red Men totaled 303 yards. Lafayet McGary led the ground game with 56 yards on seven carries. Suchecki was 10-of-31 for 160 yards and Cobbs was his top receiver with four catches for 120 yards. Greg Money registered a team-leading 11 tackles. 

The Comets host Aurora (Ill.) University next Saturday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m.